-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The European Union has launched a fact-finding mission to determine the causes of the August war between Georgia and Russia , an EU spokeswoman said Tuesday .

Heidi Tagliavini , a Swiss dipomat , will head the investigation into what started the Georgian conflict .

The eight-month inquiry will examine the facts of the conflict in regard to international law , humanitarian issues and human rights , said the spokeswoman , who did not give her name because she was not allowed to speak publicly . Investigators will also assess the basis for all accusations made regarding the conflict , the spokeswoman said .

Heidi Tagliavini , a Swiss diplomat and former United Nations special representative for Georgia , will head the mission , the spokeswoman said .

The mission began its work Monday and was due to finish July 31 , 2009 , ending with a report to the EU , the U.N. and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , the spokeswoman said .

Georgia launched a campaign against South Ossetia , a Russian-backed separatist territory , on August 7 . The following day , Russian tanks , troops and armored vehicles poured into South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian territory , Abkhazia , advancing into Georgian cities outside the rebel regions .

The two sides blamed each other for starting the conflict and have made accusations of ethnic cleansing .

Moscow has since recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent regions .

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European Union launches mission to determine causes of Georgian conflict

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Heidi Tagliavini , former U.N. special representative for Georgia , heads probe

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Georgia and Russia blame each other for starting the conflict